Method of and blank for making slide fasteners



Junel, 1943. A. :5. CARLIL'E METHOD OF AND BLANK FOR MAKING SLIDEFASTENERS Filed Jan. 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l mvemor; fltfi'ed E6211! IBY MW. ATTORNEY.

June 1, 1943. A. E. CARLILE METHOD OF AND BLANK FOR MAKING SLIDEFASTENERS Filed Jan. 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I I? I wwATTORNEY June. 1943- A. E. *CARLILE 2,320,566

METHOD OF AND BLANK FOR MAKING SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Jan. 17, 1941 SSheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEX.

Patented June 1,1943

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND BLANK FOR MAKING SLIDEFASTENERS Alfred E. Carlile, Meadville, Pa., assignor to Talon, Inc., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application January 17, 1941, Serial No.374,891 '8 Claims. ((31.29-148) This invention relates to slide fastenermanufacture and, in particular, to the provision of a new and improveddie cast slider construetion, slider blank, and method for manufacturing"die cast" metallic sliders for slide fasteners.

'It is an object of this invention to provide a cores or core parts inorder to form the upwardly.

' diverging substantially Y-shaped channel in the new and improvedmethod of slide fastener slider manufacture; wherein the slider body isformed in two parts by die casting, and the parts are thereafter rigidlysecured together by the application of localized heat and pressure,niaking possible the use of open, fixed core dies and elimination ofcomplicated multiple-part dies hitherto found necessary in manufacturingdie cast sliders, and wherein effective and accurate align ment andspacing ofthe component parts of the slider are secured concurrentlywith connection of the parts.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improveddie cast slider form ing blank incorporating one or more die cast gates,each comprising complementary slider body forming wing members andconnecting and supporting sprues.- 1

These and other objects and advantages of th invention will appear fromthe following descripslider body. This channel guides the interlockingfastener members of the fastener into and out of interlocking*engagement in opening and closing the fastener. Likewise, the use ofsuch die constructions was responsible for the produc tion of uneven andirregular internal slider surfaces, because of the inaccuracies in themovable die parts and/oi imperfect fitting thereof. The angles at whichthese moving cores or parts could be withdrawn likewise limited theinternal contours achievable in sliders manufactured by the use of suchdies and such die lasting methods. I

According to the principles of this invention, all of thesedisadvantages or prior art slide fastener slider di casting productionmethods are totally obviated.

In manufacturing die cast sliders for slide fas teners according to thisinvention, a slider-forming blank, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, is

' formed by die casting. The blank, or gate, shown tion taken inconjunction with the accompanyport of the assembled parts of the sliderbody of Fig. 2 on a chuck particularly adapted for its support;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, of slider wingconnecting apparatus according to this invention, showing the heatingelement in heating contact with the slider body at the beginning of itsheat and pressure applying operation;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5, butshowing the heating element in its lowermost, most advanced, position.

Formerly, in manufacturing die cast sliders for slid fasteners, theslider body was formed integrally, in one part, which necessitated theuse of complicated multiple part dies with retractible in Fig. 1comprises a sprue ll connecting and supporting a slider rear wing memberI 2 and a slider front wing member M which are, of course, die castintegrally therewith. A plurality of connected blanks comprising commonsprues II- and wing members l2 and H are preferably formedsimultaneously in a. single die casting shot and the disposition of thewing members l2 and I4, 4

shown in Fig. 1, is merely illustrative.

The rear wing member l2 has a plate-like portion IS with a pair oflongitudinally disposed, laterally spaced marginal guide flanges l6extending from one side of the plate-like portion 15. The side flangesl6 cooperate with similarly spaced and similarly disposed side flangesl8 extending from one side of the plate-like portion ll of the frontwing member I4 to form theputer walls of the upwardly diverging fastenermember guide channel of the slider hen the wing members l2 and M areconnected together in predetermined spaced relationship, as hereinaftermost' fully described and as shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10.

From Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will clearly appear that the wingmembers l2 andv M are capable of being readily formed by the usei'lofdie mem bers having fixed or stationary immovable cores. The movable diemembers maybefadvanced to engagement with and withdrawn from engagementwith complementary stationary die members in straight line movement.

As shown'in Fig.1, the front wing member l4 has the neck or wedgemember; I9 formed integrally therewith This neck or wedge member itextends from the inner side of the plate-like portion ll of the frontwing member I and is of generally wedge-like section, the inclined sidesurfaces thereof cooperating with the inner surfaces of the flanges l6and I8 of the wing members l2 and H to form the substantially Y-shapedupwardly diverging interlocking fastener member guide channel of theslider.

Extending from the end of the wedge or neck member I 9 is a reduced,non-circular, extension or-projection 2| which is adapted to fit intothe complementary aperture 22 formed in the platelike portion I! of therear wing member |2. The shoulder 20 formed at the junction of the wedgemember i9 with the non-circular extension 2| engages the inner surfaceof the plate-like portion I 01' the wing member I2 adjacent the aperture22, as shown in Fig. 3, predeterminedly to space the wing members 2 andl 4 when they are assembled, as shown in Fig. 3. While the projection orextension 2| is of substantially uniform section throughout, theaperture 22 is tapered or provided with a draft, as shown in Fig. 3,whereby the inner portion of the aperture closely engages the innerportion of the exten-- sion or projection 2|, while the outer portion ofthe aperture is spaced substantially therefrom.

After the slider-forming blank is formed by die casting, as shown inFig." l, the wing members l2 and H are removed fromthe sprue ii insuitable manner as by clipping or cutting, and the wing member I2 isassembled to the wing member ll, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. .Theprojection or extension 2| is then expanded to fit tightly in theaperture 22 in order fixedly to secure the wing members I2 and Iltogether in predetermined spaced relationship assured by the cooperationof the shoulder 20 with the inner surface of the portion I! of the rearwing member l2, as pointed out above. This setting is accomplished bytheapplication of heat and predetermined pressure locally to that portionof the extension or projection 2| which extends outwardly beyond thewing member i2, as shown in Figs.

2, 3 and 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the front wing member I4 is also provided withbail-supporting trunnlons 24 formed integrally therewith during diecast-- These trunnion; are aligned with one anat each end, with trunnionengaging apertures adapted to fit over the trunnions 24 when the bailmember is sprung lntoposition.

It will thus be seen that, according to this invention, slider-formingblanks comprising sets of rear and front wing members are formed by diecasting; the individual wing members are cut out of the die cast gatesor blanks and assembled,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the projections or extensions 2| beingthereafter set, fixedly'to secure the wing members together inpredetermined spaced relationship. This slider wing connecting orsetting operation is followed by assembly of the bail to each sliderbody.

Particularly adapted to the performance of the above-described sliderwing connecting or settingoperationis the apparatus shown in Figs.

4, 5 and '6. This comprises broadly a chuck 2! (Fig. 4) particularlyadapted to support the assembled complementary slide fastener wingmembers before they are set, and heat and pressure applying apparatusincluding a heating element ll adapted to act upon the projection orextension 2| permanently to secure the wing members l2 and "together.The latter apparatus includes a base 30 having a chuck aligning platefixed thereon, which chuck aligning plate 2| support the chuck 29 shownin Fig. 4 in predetermined position in order that the heating element 40engages the projection 2|. The heating element 40 is supported in suchmanner as to be thrust against the projection or extension 2| I withpredetermined force whereby it first softens and then compresses theprojection or extension 2| so that it completely fills and tightly fitswithin the aperture 22, as shown in Fig. 2.

In detail, the chuck 29 comprises a base plate '32 which is preferablymagnetized and which supports the spacer plate 33. The spacer plate I!is of irregular shape and is of substantially the same thickness as thecombined thickness of the plate-like portion ll of the front wing member7 narrow or outer portion of the guide slot ll and adapted to limitinward movement of the slider by engagement with the inner end portionof the wedge member I! of the slider when the slider is disposed in thechuck as shown in Fig. 4.

Superposed on the guide plate 34 is the retainer plate 38 which has thecentral portion thereof cut out to permit free access of the heatingelement 40 to the extension 2|, asshown in Fig. 6. The retainer platell, guide plate 24 and spacer plate 33 are secured together and to thebase plate 32 by suitable means such as machine screws 39 extendingthrough complementary bores in these members.

The chuck 20, thus, forms a guideway in which the front wing member llmay be placed either before or after attachment of the rear wing memberl2 thereto. when the front wing .member isdisposedinthisguideway,itisrestrained against movement both laterally ofthe guide slot II and inwardly longitudinally thereof. The cooperationof the non-circular or projection 2| with the complementary aperture 22ofthe rear wing member l2 maintains the rear wing member I! fixedagainst movement, in like manner.

The heating element ll comprises a muteconical head member llscrew-threadedly attached at 42 to the lower end of the coil housing 43.Thiscoilhousing 4s enclosestheheatingeoii l4 and isscrew-threadedlyattached at ll to the tubular extension 40 whichencloses the electrical conduits 41 and ""connectingthe heating coll Nto a conventional source of electric not shown.

bular extension 48, by means of set screw II, is

the stop member'll which performs a funcflon hereinafter most clearly,explained. Also adener y.

Adjustably secured to the upper end of thetucarrier member 52 which isdisposed adjacent and above the coil housing43. The carrier member 52 isdisposed within a rectangular carrier comprising the bottom plate 54,top plate 55 and side plates 56 and 51. The bottom plate 54 is securedto each of the side plates 66 and 51 by means of four screws 59, and thetop plate 55 is secured to the side plates 56 and 51 in like manner bymeans of four screws 59. The bottom plate 54 is provided with anaperture 60 permitting sliding movement of the coil housing "and head 4|of the heating element 40 with respect thereto and an aperture 6| isprovided in the top plate 55 permiting like movement of the extension 46with respect thereto. The top plate 55 is fixedly secured to avertically reciprocable cross head 62 by means ofa pair of screws 62awhich are disposed substantially in alignment with the rearmost pair ofscrews 56, described above. of compression springs 63 is disposed"between the top plate 55 and the carrier plate 52 and performs afunction hereinafter described in detail. The side plates 56 and 51 areprovided with rectangular recesses adapted closely to interfit with thehead portion64 of the crosshead 62, as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to impart strength and rigidity thereto, the crosshead 62 isprovided with a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposedstrengthening'ribs 65, as shown in Figs. and 6. The main or plate-likeportion 66 of crosshead 62 is provided at each side with bearingsurfaces adapted to guide it in vertical reciprocatory motion. To therear of the plate-like portion 66 of the crosshead 66 is a connector eye61, to which the connecting rod 68 is secured by means of the pin 69.

The above-described base 30 of the machine is provided with a standardhaving therein an opening and a pair of vertical parallel recesses I l,in which the vertical bearing surfaces at the sides of the plate-likebody portions 66 are disposed and in which they are retained by means ofthe retainer plates I2 secured by means of bolts I3 to the standard orupright 10.

Controlled reciprocatory movement is imparted to the crosshead 62through theconnecting rod 68 by conventional means, not shown. Since therectangular carrier. comprising plates 54, 55, 56 and 51 is fixed to thevertically reciprocating crosshead, like motion is also impartedthereto. The carrier member 52 is reciprocable with respect to theabove-described rectangular carrier and by means of the above-describedpair of spring members 63 disposed between the top plate 55 of therectangular carrier and the carrier 52, the carrier member 52 is alwaysresiliently urged downwardly in the rectangular carrier. .When thecrosshead 62 is in its lowermost position, as

shown in each of Figs. 5 and 6, the spacing ofthe parts is such that,upon initialengageme'nt of the heating element 40 with theabove-described extension 2| of the slider, the springs 63 are placedunder tension, as shown in Fig. 5. The

heating element 40 is, of course, always maintained at predeterminedtemperature and,follow ing this initialcontact with the extension 2 I,the extension is progressively heated. Upon continued heating oftheextension 2|, it is rendered plastic, whereupon the springs 63 expandand force the heating element carrier member 52 downwardly with respecttothe rectangular car- A pair ing element 46 from the position of Fig. 5to that of Fig. 6 is, of course, controlled by the adjustment of thestop member 56 on the tubular exof the heating element carrier memberlongi tudinally with respect to the tubular extension 46.

Thus, in operation, the crosshead 62 continuously reciprocatesvertically, carrying with it the rectangular carrier com-prising platemembers 54, 55, 56 and 51, which is fixed thereto. Between the strokesof the crosshead 62, the loaded chuck 29 is seated within thecomplementary recess in the chuck aligning plate 3| oi. the base 30.Toward the lower end of each reciprocation, the heating element 40engages the extension 2| of the slider in the loaded chuck 29, beingyieldingly maintained in contact therewith by the downward thrust of thecompressed springs 63 until the metalof the extension 2| is sufficientlysoftened to permit this yielding force to thrust the head 4| of theheating element 40 from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6,whereby the heated, plastic, metal of the extension ,2|' is compactedwithin the aperture 22 of the slider fixedly to secure the front wing l4and rear wing l2 of the slider together and form a one-piece sliderbody.

After the extension 2| of each slider is heated and expanded orcompressed into the aperture 22, as pointed out above, the chuck 29 isremoved from the path of the heating element 40 and reloaded andreturned thereto or substituted for by another loaded chuck. i

From the above description, it will clearly appear that I have provideda new and improved method of manufacturingdie cast sliders for slidefasteners;wherein the slider bodies are formed of two parts, thereafterunited by the local application of heatand pressure to form a singleunitary slider body. It will likewise appear that I have provided a newslider forming blank including at least one pair of complementary sliderbody forming members adapted for connection by the local application ofheat and pressure and that I have provided a new and improved apparatusfor the .performance of the connecting operation by the localapplication of heat and pressure.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merelyillustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehendwithin my invention such modifications as are included rier until thisspring-effected movement is limited by engagement of the stop memberwith the plate of the rectangularcarrier, as shown in Fig. 6. The extentet this movement of the heatslider-forming member and ,an integral wedgemember on the other member having a reduced extension expansible in saidaperture upon application of heat and pressure fixedly to securesaidslider-forming members in predetermined spaced relation. v

2. A blank for making die cast sliders for slide fasteners comprising anintegral die cast gate including a pair of slider-forming membersconnected by an integral severable sprue, one of said members havingtherein a non-circular outwardly flaring tapered aperture and the othermember prising an aperture in one slider-forming memhaving an integralwedge member with a reduced fasteners comprising die castingslider-forming blanks comprising pairs of slider-forming membersconnected by severable sprues, while forming complementaryinterengageable connecting means on the members of each pair, severingthe sprues from complementary pairs of said sliderforming members,assembling severed pairs of slider-forming members with their connectingmeans interengaged, and connecting the assembled slider-forming memberspermanently tosether by application of heat and pressure locally to saidconnecting means.

4. A method of making die cast sliders for slide fasteners comprisingdie casting slider-forming blanks comprisingcomplementary pairs ofsliderforming members connected by severable sprues while formingcomplementary interengageable connecting means on the members of eachpair, severing the sprues from said slider-forming members, assemblingeach pair of slider-formin members with their connecting meansintcrengaged, and fixedly connecting said assembled slider-formingmembers together by'concurrent application of pressure and fusing heatlocally to said connecting means.

5. In a method of making die cast sliders for slide fasteners fromslider-forming blanks comprising pairs of slider-forming members withcomplementary interengaging connecting means T on the members of eachpair, assembling pairs of slider-forming members with their connecting 1means interengaged, and permanently securing said slider-forming memberstogether by application ofheat and pressure locally to said connectingmeans.

6. In a method of making die cast sliders for slide fasteners, diecasting a pair of complementary slider-forming members with integral,complementary connecting means, said means comher and an integral neckon the'other slider.- forming member having a reduced extension fittingloosely in said aperture, assembling said slider-forming memberstogether with the reduced extension in said aperture, and applying heatand pressure to said reduced extension for rendering it plastic andexpanding it firmly in said aperture fixedly to secure saidslider-forming members together.

7. In a method of making die cast. sliders for slide fasteners, forminga pair of complementary die cast slider-forming members of fusiblematerial with integral complementary connecting means comprising anon-circular tapered aperture in one slider-forming member and anintegral neck on the other slider-forming member having a reducednon-circular extension of section corresponding substantially to thesmallest portion of said aperture, assembling said sliderforming memberstogether with the reduced extension in said aperture, and applying heatand pressure to said reduced extension for rendering it plastic andexpanding it firmly in said aperture fixedly to secure saidslider-forming'members together.

8. In a method of making die cast sliders forslide fasteners, forming apair of complementary slider-forming members with integral complementaryconnecting means, said means comprising a non-circular outwardly flaredaperture in one slider-forming member and an integral neck on the otherslider-forming member having a reduced non-circular extension of sectioncorretension beyond said aperture for rendering it sponding'substantiallyto the smallest portion of said aperture and longer thansaid aperture, as-

sembling said-slider-formingmembe'rs together with the reduced extensionextending through and beyond said aperture, and applying fusing heat andyielding pressure to said reduced explastic and thereafter it firmly insaid aperture while plastic, fixedly to secure said slider-formingmembers together.

Arman E. cannnn.

